Written Answers

Tuesday 17 October 2000

Scottish Executive

Elderly People

Christine Grahame (South of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive which local authority takes financial responsibility for the care provision for elderly people when they move from one local authority area in which they have been assessed to another where the care provision is provided and what the statutory basis for this is.

Iain Gray: If a local authority decides, after an assessment of need, that a person requires care and they decide that the care should be provided in another local authority’s area, they retain responsibility for the costs of that person’s care. The person is regarded as "ordinarily resident" in their area. These arrangements only apply where the decision to provide the care outside their own area is taken by or agreed with the local authority who has assessed the person’s need.

  The statutory basis for these arrangements is founded on section 86(1) of the Social Work (Scotland) Act 1968. There is no definition of "ordinarily resident" in the Act, but it is subject to interpretation by the courts. Scottish Executive Circular SWSG1/96, a copy of which has been placed in SPICe, sets out guidance derived from relevant legal proceedings.

Enterprise

Mr Kenny MacAskill (Lothians) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has any plans to promote Prestwick Airport as an Enterprise Zone.

Henry McLeish: The criteria for the creation of Enterprise Zones are a reserved matter. However, the Scottish Executive has no plans at present to promote the creation of an Enterprise Zone for Prestwick Airport. Together with other agencies, we are continuing our efforts to deepen and grow the aerospace cluster at Prestwick.

Enterprise

Mr Kenny MacAskill (Lothians) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what criteria it uses for the creation of an Enterprise Zone.

Henry McLeish: The criteria for the creation of Enterprise Zones are a reserved matter.

Enterprise

Mr Kenny MacAskill (Lothians) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how many Enterprise Zones there are, when they were created and why they were selected.

Henry McLeish: The creation of Enterprise Zones is a reserved matter. The Lanarkshire Enterprise Zone is the only zone in Scotland. It was designated on 1 February 1993 for a period of 10 years.

Oil and Gas Industry

Mr Kenny MacAskill (Lothians) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-9312 by Nicol Stephen on 12 September 2000, who the industry and government members of the Pilot task force are, how the members were appointed and by whom; how it is accountable to the Executive, and what powers of instruction, direction and guidance it has in relation to the task force.

Nicol Stephen: The individuals from companies in the oil and gas sector, trade unions and Government departments who form Pilot were invited to be members by Helen Liddell, DTI Minister for Energy. The list of members is given below. Pilot is not accountable to the Scottish Executive, but the Minister for Enterprise and Lifelong Learning is Vice Chairman because of the continuing importance of a strong oil and gas industry to the Scottish economy.

  PILOT Membership

  


Chairperson: Helen Liddell


Minister for Energy and Competitiveness, 
DTI




Vice Chairman: Henry McLeish


Minister for Enterprise & Lifelong 
Learning, Scottish Executive




Brian Wilson, MP


Minister of State, Scotland Office




Paul Blakeley


Director & General Manager, Talisman




Malcolm Brinded


Managing Director, Shell UK Exploration 
and Production




Danny Carrigan


Scottish Reg. Sec, Amalgamated Engineering 
& Electrical Union




David Cassie


Managing Director, Coflexip Stena 
Offshore




Ian Craig


General Manager UK & Ireland, 
Enterprise Oil




Geoff Dart


Director, OG, DTI




Stephen Hampson


Head of Enterprise and Industrial 
Affairs, Scottish Executive




Dave Smith


President, Marathon Oil UK




Steve Marshall


Regional President, BP Amoco




Mike Mannering


Managing Director UK, Schlumberger




James McCallum


President, Global Marine Integrated 
Services - Europe;
Chairman, Stretch Performance Network




Dinah Nichols


Director General, Environmental Protection, 
DETR




Clive Norris


Director of Safety Policy, HSE




David Warren


Director, British Trade International




Sir Steve Robson


2nd Permanent Secretary, Treasury




Tom Smith


Chairman and Managing Director, Nessco 
Ltd;
SME representative on OSO Board




Mike Straughen


Managing Director, AMEC Process & 
Energy




Anna Walker


Director General, Energy, DTI




Sir Ian Wood


Chairman and MD, John Wood Group 
plc;
Chairman, Scottish Enterprise




Iain Todd


Director, Oil & Gas Industry 
Development, DTI




Secretary: Sarah Kydd


Deputy Director, Oil & Gas Industry 
Development, DTI

Research

Mr Kenny MacAskill (Lothians) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what science, engineering and other research bodies are accountable to it; what powers of direction, guidance and instruction are available to it in relation to each; what current programmes or studies are ongoing at the behest of those bodies, and what level of funding has been made available by the Executive to each body.

Henry McLeish: The Scottish Executive commissions a programme of research in agricultural, biological and related sciences from the five Scottish Agricultural and Biological Research Institutes, the Scottish Agricultural College and the Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh. The organisations are all funded by grant-in-aid and are accountable to the Scottish Executive and to Parliament for this funding through the Chief Executives who are accountable officers. Controls over the organisations are described in Management Statements and Financial Memoranda (in the case of SAC, a Memorandum of Understanding). In addition, the Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh is governed by the provisions of the Natural Heritage (Scotland) Act 1985 which includes powers for Scottish Ministers to appoint Trustees to the Board and to require the board to provide such information relating to the discharge of their functions as Ministers may require. The table below sets out a brief description of the current programmes of each organisation and of the Scottish Executive’s recurrent funding in 2000-01.

  


 
 
Organisation


Programme


Recurrent
funding in
2000-01
£k




Hannah Research Institute


Generation of new knowledge in biological 
science and technology relevant to harnessing lactation for nutritional 
and economic benefit and to the quality of food products.


2,922




Macaulay Land Use Research Institute


Undertakes research in the context 
of rural land use and resource management. Assessment of the environmental, 
economic and social impacts of agriculture and related land uses 
together with the consequences of change resulting from factors 
and influences such as policy, management, effects of climate 
and pollution.


5,992




Scottish Crop Research Institute


Undertakes a programme of research 
on agricultural, horticultural and industrial crops, their pests 
and diseases and on processes common to all plants to create and 
protect wealth and to improve the quality of life and the environment.


7,503




Rowett Research Institute


Conducts research on biochemical 
and physiological aspects of mammalian nutrition, with particular 
emphasis on the effects of diet on health and on the complex interplay 
between agriculture, food and health.


5,988




Moredun Research Institute


Conducts research on the biology 
of infectious diseases in sheep and other grazing animals that 
contribute to national wealth and are integral to sustainable 
agriculture.


3,719




Scottish Agricultural College


Research programme covers farming 
systems, environmentally clean technology, animal health, plant 
and crop science, crop health, soils and nutrient cycling, genetics 
and reproduction, nutrient supply, animal welfare and behaviour, 
and socio-economics. In addition SAC provides a programme of further 
and higher education and a range of Veterinary and advisory services.


17,986




Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh


The study of whole plant and fungal 
science and plantsmanship, emphasising the diversity and systematic 
relationship of plants in order to understand their evolutionary 
mechanisms, environmental significance and conservation value. 
In addition the Garden conducts post-graduate education and programmes 
of public education and understanding of plant science, as well 
as providing public access and enjoyment.


4,868




  The Fisheries Research Service (FRS) and the Scottish Agricultural Science Agency (SASA) are, as Executive Agencies, also accountable to the Scottish Executive. Their administrative arrangements are provided in Framework Documents, as for all SE Executive Agencies. Each is run by an Agency Chief Executive.

  FRS aims to improve management of the living resources in the seas and inland waters of Scotland. FRS provides scientific and technical advice and information on fisheries, aquaculture and the aquatic environment. It undertakes statutory and regulatory responsibilities on behalf of SERAD, and it conducts a programme of scientific and technical activities, monitoring, surveillance and research. There is an Agency Strategy Board, chaired by the Fisheries Secretary of SERAD. Funding of FRS stands at £13.6 million for 2000-01.

  SASA provides expert advice on agricultural crops, horticultural crops and aspects of the environment. It performs statutory and regulatory work in relation to national, European Community (EC) and other international legislation and agreements, on plant health, bee health, variety registration, crop improvement, genetic resources, the protection of crops, food and the environment. Funding of SASA stands at £6.9 million for 2000-01.

  The Scottish Higher Education Funding Council (SHEFC) is not a science or research body, but it is the Executive Agency responsible for the funding of Scotland’s higher education institutions. In 2000-01 SHEFC support for research in the higher education sector totalled £133 million.

Research

Mr Kenny MacAskill (Lothians) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what representations it has made to the Cabinet Office regarding ongoing research projects in devolved areas controlled by research councils which are reserved.

Henry McLeish: The Scottish Executive is in regular contact with the United Kingdom Government on a wide range of issues, including research.

Tourism

Mr Kenny MacAskill (Lothians) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has any plans to promote a fuel voucher scheme for tourists.

Henry McLeish: We have no plans to do so.